William Cavendish, 1st Earl of Devonshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Earl of Devonshire
|
|
|---|---|
William Cavendish, 1st Earl of Devonshire
|
|
| Born | 27 December 1552 |
| Died | 3 March 1626 Hardwick, Derbyshire, England
|
| Spouse(s) | Anne Keighley, Elizabeth Boughton |
| Children | William Cavendish, 2nd Earl of Devonshire Frances Cavendish Gilbert Cavendish James Cavendish |
| Parent(s) | Sir William Cavendish Bess of Hardwick |
William Cavendish was an important English nobleman, politician, and courtier. He lived from 1552 to 1626. He became the first Earl of Devonshire, a special title given by the King.
Contents
Growing Up and Education
William Cavendish was the second son of Sir William Cavendish and Bess of Hardwick. After his father passed away, his mother married again. William and his older brother, Henry, went to Eton. Eton is a famous school in England.
In 1567, William went to Clare College, Cambridge, a university. Later, in 1572, he joined Gray's Inn. This was a place where people studied law to finish their education.
His Career and Titles
By 1584, William's mother had bought a lot of land for him. This land was worth a lot of money. He became a justice of the peace in Derbyshire. This meant he helped keep law and order in the area.
William was also a Member of Parliament (M.P.). He represented Liverpool in 1586 and Newport (Cornwall) in 1588. He was also appointed High Sheriff of Derbyshire in 1595. The High Sheriff was a very important local official.
Becoming a Baron and Earl
In 1605, William was given the title Baron Cavendish of Hardwick. This happened because his niece, Arbella Stuart, helped him. A baron is a noble title, just below a viscount.
In 1608, he inherited most of his mother's land. The next year, he bought Chatsworth from his older brother, Henry. Chatsworth House is a very famous country house. He gained even more property when Henry died in 1616.
On August 7, 1618, William was made the Earl of Devonshire. This was an even higher noble title. He reportedly paid a large sum of money for this title.
Helping New Colonies
William also helped with the colonisation of new lands. He supported the settlement of the Bermudas. In fact, Devonshire Parish in Bermuda was named after him. He also supported the colonisation of Virginia in America.
He invested in several trading companies. These included the Russia Company and the East India Company. Investing meant he put money into these companies hoping they would grow and make him more money. His investments in the East India Company were very successful.
Later Life and Family
William Cavendish passed away on March 3, 1626. He was buried at St Peter's Church, Edensor. There is a special memorial inside the church for him and his brother Henry.
His Marriages and Children
William Cavendish married Anne Kighley around 1580. They had three sons and three daughters. Their children included:
- William Cavendish, 2nd Earl of Devonshire (who became the next Earl)
- Frances Cavendish
- Gilbert Cavendish
- James Cavendish
William's second wife was Elizabeth Boughton. She was a widow. With Elizabeth, he had one son named John. John became a knight, but he passed away young without having any children.
